Fincantieri has announced that its underwater warfare subsidiary, WASS Submarine Systems, has won a contract exceeding €200 million to supply Black Shark Advanced heavyweight torpedoes to the Indian Navy. The agreement underscores rising Indo-Pacific demand for advanced submarine warfare capabilities and represents a milestone export success for Italy’s defense industry.
Under the contract, the Black Shark Advanced torpedoes will arm India’s Scorpène-class attack submarines, forming a core element of the Navy’s undersea modernization program. Deliveries are expected between 2028 and 2030, with production taking place at WASS’s specialized Livorno facility. The scope of the deal extends beyond torpedo delivery to include launch system integration, maintenance solutions, spare parts, and lifecycle support, ensuring sustained operational readiness.
Industry analysts highlight the deal as a strategic reset following the cancellation of an earlier Black Shark procurement nearly a decade ago. This renewed partnership aligns with India’s broader push to strengthen deterrence and sea-denial capabilities as submarine activity intensifies across the Indian Ocean and surrounding maritime chokepoints.
Technically, the Black Shark Advanced is a 533 mm heavyweight torpedo optimized for deep-water and coastal operations. Equipped with active and passive acoustic homing, wake-homing modes, and a fiber-optic data link, it enables real-time guidance and tactical reprogramming during engagements. Its electric propulsion, modular warhead design, and low lifecycle cost make it a potent and flexible weapon for modern submarine fleets, significantly boosting the Indian Navy’s underwater combat effectiveness.
